Lippert Nominated for South Korea Ambassador Post

May. 1, 2014 - 03:45AM
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President Barack Obama with Mark Lippert in 2009. (White House Photo by Pete Souza)

WASHINGTON — US President Barack Obama has nominated Mark Lippert, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagelís chief of staff, to become the US ambassador to South Korea.

The formal announcement came on Thursday. Foreign Policy first reported that Lippert would get the nomination.

Lippert, who has close ties to Obama, has served as Hagelís chief of staff since last May. Before that he served as the assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific security affairs and as chief of staff for the National Security Council. He earlier served as then-Sen. Obamaís foreign policy adviser from 2005 to 2008.

Lippert also has a good working relationship with Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, commander of US Forces Korea, the administration official said.■